Shard of Magic [Worm crossover]

by blake0831


Chapter 8

Taylor snorted in anger and frustration as she stomped through the front door of her house.

She had gotten complacent, thinking things had eased up a bit at Winslow with the absence of Sophia. Emma proved her wrong, apparently compensating the loss of her right hand dragon with an extra helping of viciousness on her favorite target. Emma had, as usual, caught Taylor as she was leaving the last class with a scathing cutting semi-rant that took all of her willpower to just ignore and shoved her way through Emma's flunkies.

The slow burn of Taylor's anger didn't dissipate much on the trip home, and it certainly didn't on her short trip up the stairs to her room. She thumped her text books onto the table, next the to the completed, somewhat crudely looking Shield Watch and the ring binder filled with papers for said watch. Taylor seethed as she set her bag down and plopped into her bed. Just as she thought Emma couldn't get any over! Then she pulls this! Talking about Taylor's mother like that! Taylor wanted to dearly sock Emma in her traitorous mouth...

Taylor took a deep shuddering breath to forcibly calm herself. She thinks to herself that she's better than that. And this weekend, when she and her Dad goes to the PRT and she became an official Ward, she will be better than that.

Maybe she should do something to calm herself down. Something like... like...

Taylor turned her head on her pillow, and her wardrobe came into view. More specifically, the backpack next to it.

'Maybe a flight will help,' Taylor's mind chimed. Something that Emma certainly couldn't take away from her...

Taylor got up and quickly walk to her bag, swiftly taking out the flight suit. 'Yeah. A flight over Brockton will be nice....'

Taylor paused when she glimpsed her phone lying innocently on her books. She had planned to simply put on the costume and fly. Just a quick flight. Should she tell her dad?

A moment or two of internal debate passed before Taylor picked up the phone and speed dialed her father's phone.

"Hello?" Danny answered after a few rings.

Taylor started. "Hey, Dad. It's me, Taylor." she asked as she sat down on her bed.

"Taylor? What's wrong?" Danny asked, his voice channeling his concern over the line.

"Nothing. Nothing." Taylor reassured him. "I just..." "I want to fly a bit right now." she admitted.

"Huh?" Taylor could hear the 'blinking' her dad made. "Why? It's broad daylight now." Danny asked, puzzled.

"It's just...", Taylor took a deep breath. "Emma was being extra bitchy at school today. I want to let off some steam, you know?" she elaborated.

There was a few moments of silence before Danny spoke with an even voice, "The meeting with the PRT is this weekned, you know, right?". She know that! He continued "Carol Dallon's law firm is already set to help us with this." That had been a surprise to her yesterday, though her Dad had dryly pointed out that their finances can easily handle the legal fees, and they'll need help with figuring out any contracts from the PRT anyways.

"I know!" Taylor defensively said. "I know. I just... I want to do something. I feel I want to explode, I was so angry. Just a quick flight, please?" she pleaded.

"....okay." Danny conceded. "Be safe. and be careful."

Taylor made a victorious fist pump. "Thanks Dad. I will."


**************************

A quick change into the costume, a quick check with her Radar ('set radius to 100m, all directions. Show only any people within range'. A pause, and a quick peek over the fence later.' No one else around, neighbour is napping. Good enough.') and a straight up launch from the fenced in backyard later, and Taylor is soaring through the skies over Brockton Bay.

Taylor couldn't help by smile, her eyes crinkling under her mask. As she flew about, the buildings she passed below her gradually shifted from the houses of the suburbs to shop lots and storage units of Brockton Bay's many commercial areas near downtown.

Even though most of her luxuriated with the flight, a part of her wondered about her power. The part of her powers that was right now still rummaging, sorting and doing something since yesterday morning. What was it working on? Taylor had raked her brain for any requests she had made to her power that kept it so busy, but nothing comes to mind. Taylor couldn't even pause it, stop it or 'cancel' the current task her power had set on. Thus, Taylor would have to be patient to see the results her powers comes with. In the mean time though....

Taylor let out a quick 'Whoop!' as she made an aileron roll around an imaginary obstacle. Her Flight power was definitely her favorite power. The freedom to just move through the sky, the feel of the air swooshing by her, the sounds of police sirens....

Wait, what?

Taylor slowed to a hover and looked down, activating her Radar power. The power helpfully pointed out and zoomed in on the pair of BBPD police cruisers chasing.... a pair of red and green go karts? Curiosity filling her, Taylor flew closer after the chasing police cars and the go-karts weaving dangerously around traffic.

She had gotten closer and above when a white and gold figure swooped in and stopped in leading green go kart cold in its tracks by smashing down the front part, wreaking the front axle, streering column and front bumper. Glory Girl of New Wave.

As the trailing red go kart wildly skidded to a stop, a figure in silver knight-themed power armour joined in and block the path forward. Gallant of the Wards.

As she drew closer angling of the side of the road (the two police cars stopped and blocked the road behind), the skinny green plumber suited one (A plumber jumpsuit? Really?) scrambled out of his go kart and the larger broad shouldered red one hopped out of his, brandishing a... something (her Radar power helpfully highlighted it and tentatively labelled it as a weapon.) at the two teenage heroes-

[QUEEN ADMINISTRATOR: INVOKING ADMINISTRATOR PRIVILEGES: DATA REQUESTED!]

-and the two heroes suddenly collapsed to their knees in surprise, holding their heads in sudden pain. Taylor's eyes widened as she swooped in around to come behind the heroes. Did that red guy used a weapon on the heroes?! Her face setting in determination, she accelerated and zipped to place herself between the downed heroes and the red-clad villain (why was he looking at his gun(?) in confusion?) and creating a large teal riot shield to cover them.

Ignoring the cries of surprise from the red and green villains in front of her ("Who the hell are you?!" the red one demanded, while the green shouted something about 'Green Lanterns') and turned her head towards the grimacing heroes. "I'm here to help! Are you two okay?!" she quickly asked.

Glory Girl nodded as she shakily stood up. "Yeah. I'm good. Just got caught by surprise. Never had anything like that hit me before." She helped Gallant before looking at her in slight surprise. "Who are you?" she asked, supporting Gallant, who is also (she thinks) looking at her in surprise.

"I'm..."Taylor trailed off. She haven't picked a name! She forgot to pick a name! Before Taylor could say anything more, her Radar power alerted her to her front. Snapping her head around, she saw the red one (Now this close, she could recognize him: Uber. Which most likely makes the skinny green guy L33T.) threw a pair of something into the air at her. The Radar power helpfully identified them as grenades.

Taylor quickly snapped her right fist up in panic, a Punch Blast at the ready. In her view, a 2d grid plane superimposed itself, with a targeting reticule showing where her fist was pointed at. She lined it up with the grenades and fired as fast as she could. In her panic over the sudden grenades, it took a few shots to hit them out of the air and render them to pieces.

Taylor nearly let out a breath of relief before another alert drew her attention. L33T (in her panic, Taylor had momentarily tunnel-visioned and forgot for a moment about those two villains) had hopped into the red go-kart with Uber (Now Taylor remembered why those outfits looked familiar! Mario and Luigi!) and had thrown yet two more grenades at her (!).

Before Taylor could react, the two grenades exploded in mid-air with thunderous Bang! and bright flashes of light (the Radar power blacked out and blocked the flashes and softened the sound. Handy thing, this Radar power.) A squeal of tires and Taylor jerked away as the red go-kart with the villains riding in it (Uber was driving, L33T standing/crouching behind the seat) roared by the heroes. A stunned Taylor wanted to do something, anything! The Radar power highlighted two bags in the rear of the cart as 'objects of interest', so she quickly grabbed them with her telekinesis out and over from the cart.

As the two bags floated over to Taylor covered in the teal green glow of her telekinesis, the go-kart vanished from sight, and Taylor griited her teeth in slight frustration. "Damnit!" she exclaimed as she set the bags down near her boots.

Glory Girl floated over "It's okay, newbie." she reassured Taylor. Gallant nodded, looking more steady on his feet. "We'll get them next time." he promised.

Taylor glared bank down the road, before closing her eyes and shook her head. "But what did they do?" Taylor asked, looking at the other two heroes while deactivating her Radar power and Hardlight Shield.

Glory Girl shrugged "Robbed a jewelry store, shouting about saving Princesses all the while. Figures they pull something like this when most heroes are still stuck at Canberra." she frowned.

Taylor frowned a bit before suddenly wincing in thought. If she hadn't mess up things with her butting in, the two more experienced teenage heroes could have caught the villainous duo. "...Sorry. I, I... messed up-" She said guilty in a small voice.

Gallant interrupted her minor pity party, "Hey, don't worry about it." Glory Girl nodded enthusiastically "Yeah, you helped us out when Uber hit us with... whatever that was. Thanks."

"Besides," Gallant said, picking up of the bags. "With those bags you grabbed, Uber and L33T left empty handed." he explained, opening the bag and showing Taylor the purloined jewelry inthem.

"Oh." Taylor stated in surprise. "...you're welcome."

"So... got a name?" Glory Girl prodded.

"Um..." Taylor started, fidgeting a bit. "Not yet? I'm kinda new." She paused before continuing with a quick glance at Gallant. "Planning to sign up with the Wards soon."

"Neat. Could always have more heroes around here." Glory Girl said with a thumbs up.

"...Thanks." Taylor said, rubbing the back of her head.

"How about you stick around a bit? Usually the PRT Dispatch and BBPD want to get a statement from us. It's just a quick one, I promise." Gallant requested.

"...okay." Taylor accepted after a pause to think about it.

**************************

It turns out, they had to wait a bit longer even after the statements. The police officers had radio-ed in an ambulance when they saw Glory Girl and Gallant went down. Even though they turned out to be alright, the police insisted to let the EMTs checked them over first.

When the ambulance approached them-

[QUEEN ADMINISTRATOR: INVOKING ADMINISTRATOR PRIVILEGES: DATA REQUESTED!]

-it parked a bit closer than where the police cars had stopped. It was a few moments before the rear doors swing open and a frowning/grimacing teenage girl in a white hooded robe step off the ambulance, one hand rubbing her head in irritation.

Glory Girl flew over to her. "Ames? What are you doing here?" she asked Panacea.

"Hitched a ride with the ambulance after you two ditched me at the shops." Panacea snapped out grumpily as she walked closer, Glory Girl floating behind her.

"Sorry, Ames. But you saw the chase..." Glory Girl defended herself.

"Yeah, yeah." Panacea waved Glory Girl off, before looking at them. "Anyone got hurt?" she snarked.

"Nothing. Uber hit me and Glory Girl with something weird that gave us huge headaches, but its fading fast." Gallant answered promptly.

Panacea frowned. "...let me check you two up quick first." she said before reaching to Glory Girl and Gallant.

Glory Girl rolled her eyes as she grabbed Panacea's hand. "Sure, you worrywart." She said, as Gallant wordlessly grabbed the other after removing one of his gloves.

There was a moment as Panacea closed her eyes and focused inwards."...alright. You two are fine." She opened her eyes and looked at Taylor. "Now, who is this?"

"Hey, Ames. This is a new hero! No name yet, but she's going to sign up with the Wards." Glory Girl cheerfully announced, waving her hands at Taylor with a 'Ta-Da!' gesture.

"...Hello." Taylor quietly greeted, having simply watched them. This is Panacea? The New Wave siblings couldn't be a more fitting study of contrasts. Not just their attire or physical looks, but their demeanor shown so far.

"...Hi." Panacea eventually returned the greeting.

"....should I go now? Or..." Taylor ventured.

"Yes, you can. You've already given your statements." Gallant said. "I look forward to working with you in the Wards." He continued with a pleased smile.

"Bye New Girl! Don't be a stranger!" Glory Girl cheerfully waved.

"....bye." Panacea sullenly followed suit.

"...okay. See you all later." Taylor awkwardly said, activating her Flight power and zoomed into the sky.

'Well,' Taylor sarcastically said in her head. 'That wasn't awkward at all!' She shook her head as she flew a looping path through the sky. On a whim, she mentally checked her power. Still at work. She shook her head and sigh at the power working on its mystery project before banking around and heading back home.